Book cover of Unix: A History and a Memoir

Book description

The fascinating story of how Unix began and how it took over the world. Brian Kernighan was a member of the original group of Unix developers, the creator of several fundamental Unix programs, and the co-author of classic books like "The C Programming Language" and "The Unix Programming Environment."

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Unix as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

If you have an Android or iPhone, or if you work on a MacBook or a Linux machine, then you are running a descendant of the Unix operating system, which appeared 60 years ago – and this book tells you the story of its creation and how it came to “conquer” the world of computers.

It’s written by Brian Kernighan, who was one of the Unix developers, together with Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Douglas McIlroy, and others. You cannot get any closer to the process than with this book, which is also full of anecdotes and tales about how Unix…

If you love Unix...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Want books like Unix?

Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 14 books like Unix.

Browse books like Unix

Book cover of Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment
Book cover of Lions' Commentary on Unix
Book cover of Unix for the Beginning Mage

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,395

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like Unix, you might also like...

Book cover of Need to Know: World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence

Need to Know by Nicholas Reynolds,

The authoritative but accessible history of the birth of modern American intelligence in World War II that treats not just one but all of the various disciplines: spies, codebreakers, saboteurs.

Told in a relatable style that focuses on actual people, it was a New Yorker "Best of 2022" selection and…

Book cover of Tsunami

Tsunami by LeeAnn Pickrell,

On the morning of December 26, 2004, an undersea earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean. The resulting tsunami killed an estimated 230,000 people across fourteen countries, from Indonesia to Sri Lanka to Thailand to the Maldives to India and all the way to East Africa.…

5 book lists we think you will like!